No my dad is not an instructor, and no it isn't unlogged time.
Since I have soloed and I have been checked out in our airplane (I have been ready forever

), I can log that time as pilot in command time.
I wouldn't worry too much about your airplane being heavy, or having stuff about it that you don't like right now. My airplane is the same way, and I have been ungrading things as I go along. After I get a few contests under my belt, I'll probably get a new wide body design (Quique's Partners sure looked nice the other day...), I am really looking at the ZNLine Hydeaway, since I love my Hydeout so much, and that seems to be the plane to have right now. Plus, ZN is a little bit more prompt, and the have better American customer support (Mark Novack) than PL from what I've seen. Don't get me wrong, I like PL, and the Smaragd has been my favorite airplane since I first saw it in 2000...
So many planes, so little money